Edward e



(No Model.)

E. ELDENLER.

PUZZLE'.

No. 536,018. Patented Mar. 19,1895.

[wml n g www@ @if @fw UNITED STATES EDWARD E. DENLER, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO OF SAME PLACE.

PATENT OFFICE.

PUZZLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 536,018, datedMarch'19, 1895i.

` APPHOMIOR filed September 1,1893. Serial No. 484,538. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom/t may concern: f

Be it known that I', EDWARD E. DENLER, of Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Puzzles; and I do hereby .declare that the following is a full,clear, and

exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form apart of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in puzzle devices of that classcomprising a box or receptacle adapted to be held in the hand, andcontaining one or more rolling objects designed to be maneuveredaccording to some predetermined rule by the manipulation of the box.

The object of the invention is to provide a novel and entertaining toyof the character referred to, and it consists in the matters hereinafterset forth and particularly pointed out in the appended claims;

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a puzzleembodying my invention, and Fig. 2 isa transverse section thereof.

A designates a box or receptacle of suitable size to be readily held inthe hand and which may be made of any suitable material and of anydesired exterior shape. The interior of the box is hollowed out toprovide a smooth concave surface upon or within which a plurality (inthis instance four) of .relatively small balls B are adapted to roll.Inthe particular form illustrated the box is made substantiallysemispherical withinyand without and is provided with a transparentcover C herein shown as secured in place by a flanged ring D. Y

Around the upper edge of the interior of the box are provided aplurality of shallow recesses or pockets a equal in number to the ballsB and each of suitable size to loosely contain one of said balls, andslightly depressed at their outer parts to prevent the too readydislodgment thereof; The pockets a are conveniently formed, as hereinshown, by downwardly inclined holes bored into'the wall of the box and,in this instance, such holes are extended entirely through said wall andare closed at ltheir outer ends by depending lips d of the flanged ringD. In the approved JOHN K. LEARY,

taking the box in the hand and so manipulating it as to cause all ofvthe balls B to be seated in the recesses a at the same time. Commonlythe first three balls are easily caused to enter the recesses, thediftcultyarising in seating the remaining balls Without dislodging thosealready placed. This, however, may be accomplished by giving a slightoscillatory movement to the box and thereby causing the fourth ball toroll back and forth with a constantly lengthening path of movement whichby careful manipulation at last lands it safely in the fourth pocket. Toincrease the difficulty of solution the interior of the box is providedcentrally with a projection or pin E which, by interfering with themovement of theballs transversely across the box, makes it necessary togive the balls an eccentric motion, and thereby renders them moredifficult to control.

While the puzzle would be useful and entertaining when made of anyexterior form, yet when made semispherical on its outer surface or ofother form enabling it to be spun or rotated on a supporting surface,the advantage is gained that the balls may be certainly and positivelydeposited in their respective recesses. The puzzle when thus constructedis therefore made more interesting because to a person who is informedof the possibility of so placing the balls by spinning, this may bequickly done, while tov others not so informed the placing of the ballsrequires long and careful manipulation, and it follows that a personknowing the secret can by concealf ing his movements quickly place theballs, while to others his succcssin doing so would remain a mystery. Asemispherical or concave form is preferred for the receptacle becausethis form while permitting the spinning of the same in the mannerdescribed, gives no hint of the availability of this means of seatingthe balls.

I claim as my inventionvided with a plurality of holes extending throughits side walls near its upper edge, a transparent plate covering thereceptacle, a flanged ring applied to hold the plate in p0- sition andto close the outer ends of said holes, and a plurality of balls locatedwithin the receptacle, substantially as described.

3. A puzzle, comprising a receptacle having an upwardly-daring interiorsurface, a plurality of balls therein, and recesses located at pointsremote from the center of thereceptacle adapted to receive said balls;said interior surface of the receptacle being provided with a smoothannular surface adjacent to said recesses to permit the free travel ofsaid balls around the interior of the receptacle, substantially as setforth.

4. A puzzle, comprising a receptacle having a circular, upwardly-daringinterior surface, a plurality of balls therein, recesses located atpoints remote from the center of the receptacle adapted to receive saidballs, and a spinning point on the exterior of the receptacle in axialalignment with the center thereof; said interior surface of thereceptacle being provided with a smooth annular surface adjacent to saidrecesses to permit free movement of said balls around the interior ofthe receptacle and outwardly away from the center thereof, substantiallyas set forth.

5. A puzzle, comprisinga receptacle having a circular, upwardly-flaringinterior surface, a plurality of balls therein, a plurality ofoppositely arranged recesses located at points remote from the center ofthe receptacle adapted to receive said balls, a transparent coverforsaid receptacle, and a spinning point on the exterior' of thereceptacle in axial alignment with the center thereof; said interior ofthe reoeptacle'heing made smooth to permit free movement of the balls incircles under the induence of spinning motion imparted to the receptacleand also outward movement under the iniuence of centrifugal action,substantially as set forth.

In testimony that `I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix mysignature in presence of two Witnesses.

EDWARD E. DENLER.

Witnesses:

C. CLARENCE POOLE, TAYLOR E. BROWN.

